BANGKOK—Team Philippines wrapped up its campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with 50 gold, 73 silver and 153 bronze medals for a total of 276 podium finishes, settling for sixth place overall—one rung below its pre-Games’ target, but a performance that top sports officials still deemed a success.
The gold-medal tally fell short of the 58 golds and fifth-place finish achieved in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia and was well below the record 149-gold haul when the Philippines hosted the Games in 2019.
Still, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio stressed that the results went beyond medal counts, pointing to breakthroughs, defended titles and key victories against the host nation.
“Very successful para sa amin. We broke many records, we defended, we beat their games—’yun ang importante,” said Tolentino. “We beat their games (football). We defended our games (basketball). Ganoon lang ka-simple.”
Before the regional meet, the POC set a goal of at least matching—or surpassing—the gold output from Cambodia, a target the delegation narrowly missed amid what officials described as restrictive eligibility rules and host-country limitations across several sports.
“Bonus na nga ‘yung gold ng women’s football na talunin and Thailand,” Tolentino said. “Nandoon pa and basketball as predicted—in spite, mabigat ‘yung in spite. Applicable to all sports ‘yun. It was an uphill battle. Masakit man sabihin, this is a brutal SEA Games. Pero hindi kinaya ng iba—Pilipino pa rin ang nanaig.”
Gregorio echoed the sentiment, underscoring that the Philippines prevailed in sports the host nation aimed to dominate.
“We won in games that mattered most—to them. Doon natin sila tinalo,” he said. “That proves that we can excel in Olympic competitions. ‘Yun naman ang hangarin natin.”
The PSC chief also highlighted the country’s 153 bronze medals—the most among all nations—as a key investment in long-term development.
“’Yung bronze medals na ’yan, ‘yan and grassroots (program) natin,” Gregorio said. “Mag-i-improve ‘yan because we gave them an opportunity to participate. The next generation of Olympians dito galing. Ang ending naman nito, Olympics.”
Athletics led the gold charge with five titles, bannered by Ernest John Obiena in pole vault, John Cabang Tolentino in the 110m hurdles, Hokett Delos Santos in the decathlon, and middle-distance wins by Hussein Loraña and Naomi Cesar in the 800 meters.
In aquatics, Kayla Noelle Sanchez delivered a standout campaign with individual golds in the 100m freestyle and backstroke, and anchored the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay to victory. The triathlon squad set the tone early by sweeping the men’s, women’s and mixed team relays.
Combat and martial arts remained a stronghold, yielding golds from taekwondo (Justin Kobe Macario, Tanchiana Mangin), jiu-jitsu (Kimberly Ann Custodio, Dean Michael Roxas), judo (Chino Sy and the mixed team), muay thai (Islay Erika Bomogao, LJ Rafael Yasay), kickboxing (Zyra Bon-as), wushu (Agatha Wong, Jones Inso), wrestling (Gabriel Thomas Dinette), and boxing, highlighted by Eumir Marcial’s -80kg triumph.
In gymnastics, Aleah Finnegan and John Ivan Cruz ruled the vault events, while Jasmine Althea Ramilo topped the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around.
Team sports delivered some of the most celebrated moments, with gold medals from men’s baseball, men’s and women’s softball, women’s football, men’s and women’s 5×5 basketball, women’s beach volleyball, and the men’s bowling team of four.
The Philippines also struck gold in emerging and niche disciplines, including skateboarding (Mazel Paris Alegado, Jericho Francisco Jr.), shooting (four practical shooting golds), modern pentathlon (three golds), sailing (Dhenver John Castillo in U19 IQFoil windsurfing), rowing, eSports (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), tennis (Alexandra Eala), ice skating (Peter Groseclose), and weightlifting (Elreen Ann Ando).
